Torrent description

Polygon Window - Surfing on Sine Waves (1993)

Hiding behind the Polygon Window is none other than the Aphex Twin himself, Richard D. James. Surfing on Sine Waves was among the first of James' records to surface and, as another mathe-magical feat of exquisite melodic proportions and rhythmic contortions, it reinforced the statement of the pivotal ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE compilation. James' later output can be willfully difficult, but the surprisingly friendly SURFING stands as one of the most enduring (and endearing) of the post-AI works.

Perhaps James intended Polygon Window as a less antagonistic alter ego for his abrasive Caustic Window persona. "Quoth" stomps and snorts like a bucking bronco, thrashing through a series of metallic rhythm loops, but the music is less intimidating than it is fascinating. James concentrates on melodic exposition rather than rhythmic complexity, filling such tracks as "Polygon Window", "If It Really Is Me", and "Quixote" with tuneful turns and brooding contrapuntal inventions. Not that the programming isn't as devilishly cleveras ever. But much of the album bypasses James' abstruse percussive tangles for more conventional techno-grounded beats, aping the build-up-and-release tactic of high-NRG dance fare."Audax Powder" even echoes The KLF's "What Time Is Love?" but warps the familiar chords into something strange and Aphex-esque.